A SERIOUS security lapse came to light after a notorious burglary accused made a good escape from the custody of Hudkeshwar Police on Monday morning. The accused gave police a slip while being taken to the restroom inside the police station. The incident has embarrassed the city police and raised serious questions over the handling of habitual offenders and security arrangements at the police station in the city. The accused has been identified as Ikka alias Harsh Mahendra Ramteke (25), a resident of Tiroda. He was arrested three days ago in connection with a burglary case and was lodged in the Hudkeshwar police station lock-up. According to police, the incident took place at around 8 am. Ikka was taken out of the lock-up after he requested to use the restroom. He reportedly insisted on using a restroom with a commode.

 

Police then escorted him to another restroom inside the station premises. Taking advantage of the situation, the accused managed toescape from police custody. Officers immediately launched a search, but he could not be traced. The escape createdpanic within the policestation. Various policeteams havebeendeployed to trace andarrest him. Police sources said Ikka is ahabitual offender with 19 burglary cases registered against himat different police stations acrossthe city.These include four cases at Pratap Nagar, three each at Sonegaon and Hudkeshwar, two each at Lakadganj, Ajni and Beltarodi, and one each at Wathoda, Ganeshpeth and MIDC police stations. This is not the first time Ikka has escaped from police custody. On May 18, 2025, he had fled from Government Medical College and Hospital after being admitted for treatment following a head injury. He had allegedly escaped while police personnel guarding him were distracted. He was, however, rearrested the next day. The latest escape has raised serious questions about security arrangements at Hudkeshwar Police Station.